Hood latch



May 9, 1933. N. A. MEARS n M 1,907,430

HOOD LATCH Filed Sept. 19, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l 'May 9, 1933- N. A. MEARS ET A1. 1,907,430

' Hoon LATCH Filed sept. 19, 1931 sheets-sheet` 2 @www May 9, 1931iA N. A. MEARs Er AL 1,907,439

HOOD LATCH Filed Sept. 19, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 9, 1933 rATE Fluor NORTON A. MEANS AND DIBRELL i?. HYNEs, OF cIIIcAGO, ILLINOIs, AssIGNoR-s To CHICAGO rORGINe-a MANUFACTURING oo., or cIIIcAeO, ILLINOIs, A CORPORATION or ILLINOISI Application filed September 19, 1931. Serial No. 563,710.

Our invention relates to an improvement in supporting abutments for hood latches of the type shown for example in Patent No.

.r 1,809,720, issued June 9, 1931. One object of oour invention is t-he provision of improved abutment means for supporting a flexible locking rock shaft. Another object is the provision of an improved form of locking l rock shaft lever. Another object is the provision of supporting means for the locking rock shaft of such a hood latch which shall be invisible from the exterior of the hood. Other objects will appear from time to time .15 in the course of the specification'andclaims.

We illustrate our invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation; Y

Figure 2 is a partial side elevation on a larger scale; t

Figure 3 is a section on the line S-Sof Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an inside elevation of the latch Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 Figure 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 4; A

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are details.; Figure 10is an inside elevation of a variant form;

Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-12 -t of Figure 10.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings,A generally indicates an automobile hood closure, A1 indicates any suitable portion of the automobile structure or frame to which is secured a locking abutment generally indicated as B. The member B includes a base plate B1 which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the frame portion A1 as by the screws B2, the nuts B3 and the washers B4. B5 indicates the locking abutment stem or member proper, outwardly extending from the base plate B1.

C indicates a rock shaft rotatably mountedY 0 within the hood A. The rock shaft `may in- HOOD LATCH clude a central offset or crank portion C1 and terminal cranks C2, indicated,`as in Figure 5, as being in part arcuate as at C3, preferably 1n the normal locking position, the point of engagement between the curved portion C3 and-the locking abutment B5 is somewhat above the axis of rotationV of the rock shaft C. This disposition of parts will be clear from Figures {.L and 5. y

In order to support the rock shaft we may employ bearing stirrups generally indicated as D as shown for example in detail in 'F igures A and 5. The member D includes pads or iianges Dl'which may be welded orf-otherwise secured to the interior of the hood A, in such fashion that no exterior mark is shown and no exterior perforation is made in the hood. D2 indicate offset intermediate portions connected by a stirrup or seatD3 in which the rock shaft seats, as shown for eX- ample in Figure 5. D4D is a closure plate which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the faces of the members D2, as shown in Figure 5, to complete the bearing for the rock shaft C and to hold the rock shaft seated in the bearing. We illustrate for example the bolts D5 which are shown as `having square heads D". The bolt shanks penetrate apertures D7 and the heads are admitted through the enlarged apertures D8 shown in 80 dotted line in Figures'fand 8 and in full line in Figures 5 and 6. D9 indicate any suitable nuts. It will be seenl that thek bolts D5 may readily be removed but that when lthe nuts are employed to lock them in 'the po- 85 sition in which the parts are shown in Figures 2and 3 a closed bearing is provided for the rock shaft C.

The intermediate portion of the rock shaft may be mounted upon a base plate generally indicated as C4, whichplate may have at a lower edge the bearing sleeves C8 offset or curled up from the stock of the plate C4. The plate C4 may penetrate Vat its upper edge, within the bracket generally indicated as C5, the ends of which may be spot welded as as at C6. This bracket may be so formed that the plate is slidably insertable into it. It may be held in position by bea-ring sleeves or brackets positioned at each side of the plate, which serve to hold the rock shaft C against that lateral movement, thereby preventing movement of the plate C4. We may employ for example brackets identical with Y those shown in Figures l and 5, as indicated for example in Figure 2. By pushing one bracket adj acent-each edge of C4 lateral movement of the plate is prevented, the brackets also preventing movement of the plate toward or away from the inner face of the hood;

Any suitable means may be employed for rotating the rock shaft.

We illustrate the exteriorly operable handle G, the interior crank arm G1 rotated thereby and the link G2, one end of which is pivoted to the crank G1, the other being looped about the crank offset C1 as at G3. G4 vare, any suitable stops upset in the plate C4 and serving to limit the crank G1 to a predetermined arc of rotation. VThe crank is provided with an `extension G5 closely approaching the inner face of the plate C4 and adapted to engage the stops G4.

Referring to the form of Figures 10, 1l and 12,r we provide a slight var'iation'of our device wherein the rock shaft C is somewhat inwardly spaced from the inner face of the closure A. We illustrate for example brackets H including end portions H1 which may be spot welded or otherwise secured to the inner face of the closure A.` The inwardly .spaced portion H2 is connected thereto as by the side members H3. A bearing-loop H4 is applied to the face ofthe member H2 and end portions H5 thereof are bolted to the member H2 as by the square headed bolts H6. The side portions H2 are apertured as at H7 to permit the passages of the heads of these bolts and the member H2 is slotted as at H8 to permit the lateral movement of theshank of the bolt. HfH9 indicate any suitable nuts adapted to lock assembly together. The plate C4 is correspondingly inwardly spaced from the inner face of the closure A and we illustrate it in Figures 10 and llas mounted on brackets H1", which correspond to the brackets H, but are yprovided with a plurality of members or portions H2 as shown in detail in Figure ll.

It will be Vrealized that whereas we have vdescribed and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many Achanges might be made inV size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of our invention. We wish. therefore, that our drawings might be taken as in a broad Vsense illustrative and diagrammatic vrather than as limiting us to our specific showing.

Theuse and operation of our invention are as follows: i'

In applying the hood latch to the closure it is advantageous to be 'able to apply the vhood latch assembly practically as a unit.

For example the stirrups or brackets H and H10 or D are already spot welded or otherwise secured to the closure when the closure is applied to the car. This is also true of the bracket C5, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thebase plate C4 may be delivered to the assembly line with the rock shaft already penetrating the sleeve C2 of the plate C4. Axial movement of the rock shaft is prevented by the crank offset at the center of the rock shaft. The operator then inserts and assembles the handle assembly. The link G2 is supplied with the rock shaft and the operator. may connect the link with the crank G1 and place the handle assembly in the condition in which it is shown in Figures 2 and 3. He also applies the holding plates or stirrups or loops H4 or D2, inserting the necessary bolts and tightening the nuts.

For example, when the auto goes down the assembly line in the course of manufacture, the stirrup member D is preferably already welded or otherwise secured to the interior of the hood A. The workman in the assembly line merely has to slip in the bolts D, and thread the securing plate D4 upon them. The apertures ofthe securing plate D4 hold the bolts against any outward movement along the slots D7. The nuts D2 lock the plateD4 firmly in position. The result is an easily assembled bearing for the rock shaft which renders application of the rock shaft to the hood quick and easy and'prevents any exterior deformation or disfigurement of the hood. While we do not wish to be limited to any specific means for securing the stirrup or brackets to the hood we illustrate them as spot welded.

It will be clear that we have illustrated an automobile hood latch Lassembly which Yis in large part preassembled and which can be readily applied, in the assembly line, with a minimum of time and trouble.

We claim 1. In a support for shafts, al relatively extended supporting member, a base plate associated therewith, said base plate including integrally formed bearingsleeves for said shaft, and additional bearing and securing means for` said shaft including brackets secured to the extended member and adapted to-receive `the shaft, and closure members for said brackets adapted touhold the shaft in operative relation with said brackets, said closure members being removably secured to said brackets..

2. In a support for shafts, a relatively extended supporting member, a b ase plate associated therewith, said base'plate including integrally formed bearing sleeves forl said shaft, an'dadditional bearing and securing means for said shaft including brackets secured to the extended member and adapted `-to'receive the sha'ft,'and closure members for said brackets adapted'to hold the shaft in operative relation with said brackets, said closure members being removably secured to said brackets, a pair of said brackets being positioned, one on each side of said base plate and being adapted to prevent endwise movement of the base plate along the axis of the shaft.

3. In a support for shafts, a relatively extended supporting member, a base plate, said base plate including integrally formed bearing sleeves for said shaft and additional bearing and securing means for said shaft including brackets secured to said relatively extended member and adapted to receive the shaft and closure means for said brackets, removably secured thereto.

4. In a support for shafts, a relatively extended supporting member, a base plate for said rock shaft, said base plate including integrally formed bearing sleeves for said shaft and additional bearing and securing means for said shaft including brackets secured to said relatively extended member and adapted to receive the shaft and closure means for said brackets, removably secured thereto, and a retaining member for an edge of the base plate remote from the shaft, said member including a socket upon the relatively extended member into which the edge of the base plate may slidingly penetrate.

5. In a shaft bearing, a relatively extended supporting member, bearings for the shaft including brackets secured to the extended member and adapted to receive the shaft, and closure members for said brackets, removably secured to said brackets, said brackets being slotted, headed bolts adapted to penetrate said slots with the heads in the space between said brackets and said extended member, said closure members being apertured to permit the penetration therethrough of the shanks of the bolts and means associated with the bolts for locking the assembly so formed together.

6. In a shaft bearing, a relatively extended supporting member, bearings for the shaft including brackets secured to the extended member and adapted to receive the shaft, and closure members for said brackets, removably secured to said brackets, said brackets being slotted, headed bolts adapted to penetrate said slots with the heads in the Y space between said brackets and said extended member, said closure members being apertured to permit l the penetration therethrough of the shanks of the bolts and means associated with the bolts for locking the assembly so formed together, the distance bei tween the apertures of the closure members being insufficient to permit the bolts to escape laterally along the slots in the brackets when the bolts penetrate the closure member.

7. In a support for shafts, a relatively extended supporting member, bearings for the shaft-including brackets secured to the extended member and adapted to receive the shaft, and closure members for said brackets, removably secured to the brackets, a base plate for the shaft including bearing sleeves through which the shaft passes, and brackets plate is removably a relatively eX- bearings for the brackets secured to the eX- plate being slotted, headed bolts` adapted to l penetrate said slots with the heads in the space between said brackets site face of the extended member, said closure members and base plate being apertured to permit the penetration therethrough of the shanks of said bolts, and means associated with the bolts for locking the assembly so formed together;

Signed at Chicago, vcounty of Cook, and

State of Illinois, this 17 th day of Sept., 1931.

NORTONV A. MEARS. DIBRELL P. HYNES.

and the oppo- 

